Eastman MD-505

[Kevin Briggs]

Hi, Everyone:

I recently picked up a blem Eastman MD 505. For how inexpensive it was, I am happy with it as a beater.

The tuners and tailpiece are cheap. Do you recommend any particular tuners or tailpiece for that particular mandolin? I'd like to upgrade those parts. In the future, I'll get it a bone nut and a Cumberland Acoustics bridge as well, but I'll have to have a luthier do those things for me.

Thanks,
Kevin

[Folkmusician.com]

Hi Kevin,

The Eastman MD505 should have a nice cast tailpiece and Schaller tuners. Did you get the MD305?

All of the Eastman's come with a bone nut. Being a blem, it is possible some things were changed around.

[Kevin Briggs]

Hi Kevin,

The Eastman MD505 should have a nice cast tailpiece and Schaller tuners. Did you get the MD305?

All of the Eastman's come with a bone nut. Being a blem, it is possible some things were changed around.

Thanks, Man:

Yes, it's the 305. It has cheaper tuners, from what I can tell, and does not have a cast tailpiece. I just assumed it had a plastic nut. What tuners and/or cast tailpiece can fit on it?

Thanks,
Kevin

[Kevin Briggs]

Thanks, Man:

Yes, it's the 305. It has cheaper tuners, from what I can tell, and does not have a cast tailpiece. I just assumed it had a plastic nut. What tuners and/or cast tailpiece can fit on it?

Thanks,
Kevin

Hi, Everyone:

Any tips on a tailpiece upgrade and tuner upgrades?

[Michael Lewis]

Take a look in the StewMac catalog at the different mandolin machines, and they have measurements posted so you can compare what you have now to what they offer. Grover, Schaller, Gotoh, Golden Age, etc. are all affordable and work pretty well. Just make sure the string post spacings match what you have now.

Most any mandolin tailpiece will function for a "player" but if you feel the need for something that looks better there are several options.

[Ivan Kelsall]

Hi Kevin - Nice to see that you're back. I'd go for an Allen 'cast' tailpiece myself. I had a really lousy 'tin' tailpiece on my very first mandolin & swapped it out for an Allen,which not only looked better,but there's nothing to stick,jam up or rattle on 'em,they're very easy to re-string as well. I have Schaller tuners on my Weber & Lebeda mandolins (have you still got your 'Fern' ?),& they work like silk.The Gotoh MA40 tuners that are on my Ellis "A" style work superbly well & they're pretty inexpensive as tuners go,but obviously,Tom Ellis thinks that they're good enough for his mandolins. It's most likely going to be down to 'which brand fits',
Ivan

[DWM]

You might consider Grover 309 tuners. I replaced the cheap Schallers on my MD604 with them. Fit the Schaller bushings without need to change them, and the inside screw holes match up. The end holes (it may have only been one end hole, I don't remember exactly) had to be moved. But the plate is a little bit larger and so covers the old holes. I really like the Grovers. They have a higher ratio and are very smooth. The same tuners came on my Webber Yellowstone.

[Milky2390]

I put an Allen TR-1 on my MD315. I didn't have to drill or move any holes. In my opinion, it isn't worth changing unless you are getting buzzing or rattling from the stamped tailpiece like I was.

[Chuck Hooper]

505 v 305...big difference.factory blemish is usually a cosmetic issue.i doubt it would relate to a component being changed out.

[Wes Brandt]

You might consider Grover 309 tuners. I replaced the cheap Schallers on my MD604 with them. Fit the Schaller bushings without need to change them, and the inside screw holes match up. The end holes (it may have only been one end hole, I don't remember exactly) had to be moved. But the plate is a little bit larger and so covers the old holes. I really like the Grovers. They have a higher ratio and are very smooth. The same tuners came on my Webber Yellowstone.

Is there such thing as "cheap" Shaller tuners? The quality of the mechanics always seem very high but I hate the fake MOP buttons and the cast metal construction… otherwise they always seem very precise.